TRAVEL ARTICLES
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Quick Guide to Banff, Canada
If you've ever considered taking a holiday to Canada, then the expansive Banff National Park comes as a highly recommended destination. Located in the Canadian Rockies, and sandwiched between the states of Alberta and British Columbia, it was first established in 1885 as the first National Park in Canada, covering some 2,564 square miles of territory.
A visit to Banff is a must do for keen enthusiasts of both skiing and hiking - there's some of the world's top ski resorts located on the mountain slopes, and it's a haven for campers and hikers with stunning sights and picturesque trails.
Banff is a popular tourist destination all year round with around 4,000,000 visitors every year. Whilst skiing is especially popular during the winter, the average temperature can drop as low as -15 c during this time. The peak season is during July and August, whilst June and September also come as highly recommended periods to go because of the milder weather combined with fewer tourist numbers.
Winter tourism really began in Banff in 1917, with the first Banff Winter Festival. The ski resorts began to sprout up a few decades later with Sunshine Village developing during the 1930s. Today, this remains a popular resort, with some 3,358 acres of skiable terrain and a top elevation of 2,730 feet. The nearby resort of Lake Louise is also an excellent choice for skiers and snowboarders; this is the largest resort in the area, with 4,200 acres of skiable terrain.
With almost 2,500 campsites, it's not hard to see why Banff is such a popular destination all year round. While some of the slopes will thaw out during the milder months of summer, it's often a perfect place for hiking and camping. There's over 1,000 miles of trails to walk, through some quite incredible landscapes. Stunning mountains provide backdrops for scenes such as vast lakes and huge pine forests that stretch as far as the eye can see.
There's also a whole range of adventurous activities to enjoy, from rafting in the summer to ice trekking along the same frozen river during the winter. Additionally Banff can boast some world class golf facilities during the summer months. Particularly of note is the picturesque setting of Fairmont Banff Springs.
The park is particularly famous for its wildlife. The forests are populated by significant populations of Grizzly and Black Bears, although you'd be very lucky (or unlucky, however you might see it!) to actually see one. There are also Cougars, Lynxes, Wolverines, Weasel and wolves as primary predators, while Elks and White-tailed Deer are common in the valleys. Beaver, porcupine, squirrel, and chipmunks are the more frequently observed smaller mammals.
If this article has got you interested in Banff, then you should head to the Banff website to take a closer look. There are a number of flights to Canada available with Cheapflights.co.uk, which are bookable up to a year in advance. Travelzoo is also well worth a look for bargain travel packages to Canada. It is recommended that you choose Calgary as the airport if you hope to travel to Banff, but both sites offer extensive lists of destinations in Canada.
A visit to Banff is a must do for keen enthusiasts of both skiing and hiking - there's some of the world's top ski resorts located on the mountain slopes, and it's a haven for campers and hikers with stunning sights and picturesque trails.
Banff is a popular tourist destination all year round with around 4,000,000 visitors every year. Whilst skiing is especially popular during the winter, the average temperature can drop as low as -15 c during this time. The peak season is during July and August, whilst June and September also come as highly recommended periods to go because of the milder weather combined with fewer tourist numbers.
Winter tourism really began in Banff in 1917, with the first Banff Winter Festival. The ski resorts began to sprout up a few decades later with Sunshine Village developing during the 1930s. Today, this remains a popular resort, with some 3,358 acres of skiable terrain and a top elevation of 2,730 feet. The nearby resort of Lake Louise is also an excellent choice for skiers and snowboarders; this is the largest resort in the area, with 4,200 acres of skiable terrain.
With almost 2,500 campsites, it's not hard to see why Banff is such a popular destination all year round. While some of the slopes will thaw out during the milder months of summer, it's often a perfect place for hiking and camping. There's over 1,000 miles of trails to walk, through some quite incredible landscapes. Stunning mountains provide backdrops for scenes such as vast lakes and huge pine forests that stretch as far as the eye can see.
There's also a whole range of adventurous activities to enjoy, from rafting in the summer to ice trekking along the same frozen river during the winter. Additionally Banff can boast some world class golf facilities during the summer months. Particularly of note is the picturesque setting of Fairmont Banff Springs.
The park is particularly famous for its wildlife. The forests are populated by significant populations of Grizzly and Black Bears, although you'd be very lucky (or unlucky, however you might see it!) to actually see one. There are also Cougars, Lynxes, Wolverines, Weasel and wolves as primary predators, while Elks and White-tailed Deer are common in the valleys. Beaver, porcupine, squirrel, and chipmunks are the more frequently observed smaller mammals.
If this article has got you interested in Banff, then you should head to the Banff website to take a closer look. There are a number of flights to Canada available with Cheapflights.co.uk, which are bookable up to a year in advance. Travelzoo is also well worth a look for bargain travel packages to Canada. It is recommended that you choose Calgary as the airport if you hope to travel to Banff, but both sites offer extensive lists of destinations in Canada.
